Henri Lee Nadeau
December 10, 1948 ~ February 6, 2025
Henri L. “Chip” Nadeau, 76, passed away on February 6, 2025, at Haven Hospice in Gainesville, FL, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born on December 10, 1948 in West Branch, MI, Chip moved to Dunedin, FL at the age of 13. He proudly spent 4 years in the U.S. Navy during Vietnam, achieving the rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer.
Chip was the founder and co-owner of Progressive Telephone Engineering in Jacksonville, FL, where he built lasting relationships and a successful career. He was a man who truly embraced life, never meeting a stranger and always ready to share a story or a laugh. He had a huge love for his family, many friends and the Florida Gators. Throughout the years he spent countless hours riding motorcycles and boating. Some of his happiest moments were spent at his cabin in Cashiers, NC and cruising on his pontoon boat on Lake Glenville, where he found peace and joy in the beauty of the mountains.
For the past 25 years, Chip was able to spend his time between Gainesville, FL and Cashiers, NC.
Chip is survived by his loving wife, Michelene, of 52 years, his daughter Staci Nadeau (Jake), his brother Larry Nadeau, brother-in-law Jeff Futch (Terri), brother-in-law Dale Futch (Jerrie) and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Henry and Mary Nadeau and his sister Cheri Wright (Hugh).
If you wish to make a donation in Chip’s honor, the family has requested donations be made to: Haven Hospice, Gainesville, FL, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, Cashiers, NC or Florida Poodle Rescue, St. Petersburg, FL.
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We will all miss Chip’s smile and friendship. And his stories will live in infamy.
We are so very sorry, he will be missed. The mountains will not be the same. Love to family
I am sorry to hear about the loss of Chip. I knew him in our childhood in West Branch. May he rest in peace!
So sorry for your loss. He was a great man. We’ll miss him! May he Rest In Peace. 🙏🙏
Marge and I are so sad to hear of Chip’s passing. Great man and a great friend. We will miss him so much. We are near Cashiers so if there is anything we can do up here anytime please do not hesitate to ask.
Praying for all of you.
Chip will be missed so
Much. He was a large part of our lives and always had a big smile on his face.
Although I never met him personally, through Staci, I got to hear about the wonderful person he was. He had a great sense of humor. From afar, I got to see how he loved and protected Staci down to his last breath. What a great man💙.
So sorry for your loss. Knew your grandparents and Cheri. Both in west branch and Traverse City. May Chip always be in sunshine.
We are so very sorry to hear of Chip’s passing. We have loved him, his stories and his infectious smile! I’m thankful for all the years we were blessed to know him! Sending love and prayers to all!
It was an honor to have known Chip, family and his friends that I got to know at HHI. He will be missed. RIP
Michelene,
We are so sorry to hear of Chip’s passing. We will miss him, and hope that you will continue to come up to the mountains in the summertime. Let me know your plans, and we’ll get together. Know that we are thinking about you during this sad time.
With much love,
Bill and Roxanna
Chip checked in with me just weeks ago to tell me his end on this earth was coming soon. He is a childhood friend from Rennie Lake. He and my brother David were close friends and for lots of years there were no girls in my age range so it was the three of us. When we chatted on Facebook he still wrote about my brother as Davey which always brought a smile. We talked about how wonderful those rears at Rennie Lake were, how fortunate we were as children to share that ideal time provided to us by Parents and Grandparents. When I was 10, a second brother came into our family. He was named for his father but always called Chip. That I hope, shows how much our family loved Chip Nadeau. In recent years Chip sent me pictures of the lake and the changes which are inevitable. We each had friends at home but those carefree summer days in the lake or walking the two track Sandy roads, trudging to the little store on Bass Lake to get ice cream were for both of us our favorite summertime memories from our childhood. Chip loved my Gram’s homemade fried cakes and often came at our Bible time and sat listening to Gramp’s read and share his faith with us. Wonderful memories!
Buddy and I will miss him terribly. Chip’s passing has been very painful for our whole family. Love you
Lynn and I are sorry we didn't meet Chip and Michaelene a long time ago.
We are so blessed that Chip and Michelene adopted us as friends.
Chip shared his love of family, friends, and life itself joyfully regardless of circumstances during our time together. We will always cherish those memories.
We are glad that he turned the page on disability, disease, and death, taking his place with Jesus listening to the heavenly choirs.
Rest in peace friend, and save us some good seats on the porch.
Dear Staci and Michelene,
How sad David and I were to see this. You both know that we considered Chip both a force of nature and a treasure of the world! So many memories and tales flooded back to our lake days, your wedding and ours, Gator Games, Esten poor bun that he constantly pulled, visits to the mountain house, Staci born on my mom's birthday 6/6 and Jennifer being born on Chip's 12/10 and his always loving/giving spirit.
We are sure that the Heavenly reunion is still underway!
Know that you all are in our thoughts and prayers.
With love ~
David and Susan Nolan
My deepest sympathy to Michelene, Chip's family and all those whom he touched with his kindness. He was such a kind and welcoming person. I know he will be greatly missed by many.
There are certain people in life who leave an indelible imprint, and Chipper is definitely one. We met Chip and Michelene over 20 years ago on Lake Glenville, NC, and we have been forever thankful for that meeting.
Chip was a gravitational force as people just wanted to be in his company. He radiated an incredible, self deprecating humor and a sincere interest in others. While Chipper endured exhausting long term physical challenges, he never complained and often inserted light humor instead. Thus I came to appreciate and have a deep respect for a man who demonstrated incredible strength and bravery, realizing few others could do what he did.
While going forward we now will always have a piece missing, knowing he lived life to the fullest will always make us smile in remembrance.
Dear Michele’s and Staci,
Our hearts go out to you at the passing of such a great person. The time in our lives from our purchase of your lake place in Keystone Heights on Hall Lake- all the fun weekend moments. The Lake was never the same since you moved. Chip was so special! Saturday mornings would start with Chip hollering “Goooo Gators” across the lake. His dancing to Bob Seger and his laugh will always be remembered and cherished. He adored his wife and daughter. I am so thankful we were blessed to know your family. My sons thought the world of your entire family. Our lives are more special for the memories we shared. Always smile when I think about Hall Lake- the boat rides- Chips laugh and all the Nadeau family. Sending Love, George, Debby, George, Jr and Greg.